ABSTRACT
To observe the expression of drebrin in the distal cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons (dCSF-CNs) of rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve by immunofluorescence technique, male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, sham surgery group and CCI group. The behavior of rats was scored. After choleratoxin subunit B-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (CB-HRP, 3 muL) was injected into the lateral cerebroventricle to trace dCSF-CNs, the expression of drebrin was observed in the dCSF-CNs through immunofluorescence double staining and laser scanning confocal microscopy technique. The results showed that only the pain threshold of CCI group was decreased. The dCSF-CNs were clearly displayed in three groups. No drebrin expression was observed in the control and sham groups. In CCI group, drebrin was markedly expressed in intracytoplasm. It is suggested that the technique displaying dCSF-CNs with immunofluorescence is successful and the dCSF-CNs are possibly involved in the transmission of nociceptive information under the neuropathic pain state.